Race winner Samuel O’Keefe (Miidlebury College) on the starting grid. © Brian Nelson
Austin, TX- The Collegiate Men’s D2 race began with Brendan Rhim (Furman University) taking the lead onto the course, but the race was far from decided – in today’s conditions, anything from crashes to mechanicals could happen at any moment. Rhim crashed, giving Sam O’Keefe (Middlebury College) a chance to gain a lead.
Rhim moved into attack mode, leading up a chase group that included many of the podium favorites. Jules Goguely (RISD), Robert Rimmer (King University), and Jack Kisseberth (Tufts University) were all in the fray.
Some local support for the Collegiate riders. © Brian Nelson
“We were all tumbling over each other the first lap or two,” said Kisseberth of the slippery conditions. “On the running sections, I was just sliding everywhere.”
Rhim attacked the chase, fracturing the group, but fell victim to the mud once again. Kisseberth moved from third spot to second following Rhim’s bobble.
Jack Kisseberth attempts to regain feeling in his hands after a strong ride to finish second in the D2 Collegiate 2015 Cyclocross National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine
O’Keefe kept up his charge, only gaining time as he tackled every tough corner smoothly. “I was running the uphills, since it was faster than crashing,” said O’Keefe, who appeared to have a solid rhythm through the off-camber corners.
O’Keefe running to a near two-minute victory in the D2s. © Cyclocross Magazine
O’Keefe sprinted through the pavement every time, took each corner just right every time, and by the time the race wrapped up had nearly two minutes on second place. Kisseberth held his position, claiming second over Rhim in third.
Andrew Bailey (Milligan College). © Brian Nelson / Cyclocross Magazine
Look forward to a rematch: each of the podium finishers will have a chance to square off again in tomorrow’s U23 Elite Men’s race. Full results below the photo gallery.
Collegiate Men D2 – 2015 Cyclocross National Championships Photo Gallery:
We spoke with winner O’Keefe and second place Kisseberth:
Collegiate Men D2 2015 Results
| Place | Bib | Last | First | Team | License | City ST | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 430 | O'KEEFE | Samuel | Middlebury College | 254864 | Baltimore MD | 57:27 | |
| 2 | 421 | KISSEBERTH | Jack | Tufts University | 368473 | Allston MA | 59:21 | 1:54 |
| 3 | 435 | RHIM | Brendan | Furman University | 282640 | Norwich VT | 1:00:10 | 2:43 |
| 4 | 414 | GOGUELY | Jules | Rhode Island School of Design | 373958 | Palo Alto CA | 1:00:27 | 3:00 |
| 5 | 436 | RIMMER | Robert | King University | 235910 | Friendsville TN | 1:00:54 | 3:27 |
| 6 | 416 | GORRY | Richard Cypress | Brevard College | 219681 | Brevard NC | 1:01:20 | 3:53 |
| 7 | 434 | RESEK | Hunter | Mars Hill University | 315400 | East Dover VT | 1:01:33 | 4:06 |
| 8 | 404 | BAILEY | Andrew | Milligan College | 282272 | Piney Flats TN | 1:01:34 | 4:07 |
| 9 | 443 | TANKERSLEY | Nolan | Milligan College | 298437 | Erwin TN | 1:02:33 | 5:06 |
| 10 | 445 | VALDEZ | Zachary | Brevard College | 280759 | Hemet CA | 1:03:12 | 5:45 |
| 11 | 451 | SHAW | Walker | Brevard College | 285782 | Hendersonville NC | 1:04:13 | 6:46 |
| 12 | 439 | SENKERIK | Benjamin | Ripon College | 294148 | Wauwatosa WI | 1:04:50 | 7:23 |
| 13 | 450 | KINGSBURY | Trever | Brevard College | 371577 | Brevard MI | 1:06:21 | 8:54 |
| 14 | 423 | LINTS | Andrew | Rochester Institute of Technolo | 403141 | Brookfield VT | @1Lap | |
| 15 | 424 | LOWDEN | Spencer | Brevard College | 268347 | Cary NC | @1Lap | |
| 16 | 449 | GARON | Nolan | Wentworth Institute of Technolo | 236457 | Dunstable MA | @1Lap | |
| 17 | 413 | GIELAR | Ian | Rochester Institute of Technolo | 359942 | Troy NH | @1Lap | |
| 18 | 437 | ROBINSON | Graham | University of Puget Sound | 416952 | Tacoma WA | @1Lap | |
| 19 | 410 | DANGELMAIER | Ray | Brevard College | 373246 | Brighton MI | @1Lap | |
| 20 | 405 | BROOKSHIRE | Grayson | Milligan College | 258439 | Hendersonville NC | @2Laps | |
| 21 | 454 | EPSTEIN | Noah | Tufts University | 305777 | Boston MA | @2Laps | |
| 22 | 440 | SIKES | Jeffery | Colorado Mesa University | 228074 | Edmond OK | @2Laps | |
| 23 | 411 | DRAKE | Jack | Mars Hill University | 448723 | Mars Hill NC | @2Laps | |
| 24 | 426 | MORKAL WILLIAMS | Samuel | Warren Wilson College | 295708 | Briarcliff Manor NY | @2Laps | |
| 25 | 442 | STALLINGS | Andrew | Milligan College | 413698 | Milligan College TN | @2Laps | |
| 26 | 402 | ADAMS | Blake | King University | 333934 | Pigeon Forge TN | @2Laps | |
| 27 | 428 | NEAR | Joseph | Massachusetts Institute of Tech | 329626 | Somerville MA | @2Laps | |
| 28 | 403 | BAILEY | Killian | Colorado Mesa University | 355614 | Vancouver WA | @2Laps | |
| 29 | 418 | GUILLEN | William | King University | 281804 | Youngsville NC | @2Laps | |
| 30 | 441 | STALLARD | Casey | East Tennessee State University | 306154 | Bristol TN | @2Laps | |
| 31 | 444 | THOMAS | Luke | Rochester Institute of Technolo | 280461 | Interlaken NY | @3Laps | |
| 32 | 419 | JENSEN | Alex | King University | 287067 | Tampa FL | @3Laps | |
| 33 | 406 | BRYER | Regis | Brevard College | 413269 | Brevard NC | @3Laps | |
| 34 | 452 | MUNKO | Ryan | Adams State University | 352196 | Clinton PA | @3Laps | |
| 35 | 409 | CORK | Ben | Baylor University | 339610 | Jefferson SD | @3Laps | |
| 36 | 412 | DUPRE | Reuben | King University | 347008 | Mobile AL | @3Laps | |
| 37 | 415 | GOGUELY | Emile | University of California-Merced | 394972 | Palo Alto CA | @3Laps | |
| 38 | 425 | MEHTA | William | King University | 366886 | Bristol VA | @3Laps | |
| 39 | 446 | WEST | Bergen | Warren Wilson College | 428522 | Asheville NC | @3Laps | |
| 40 | 431 | OKENFUSS | Jon | Washington University in St Lou | 298410 | St. Louis MO | @3Laps | |
| 41 | 433 | REED | Brady | Baylor University | 387057 | Waco TX | @3Laps | |
| 42 | 408 | COLE | Joshua | Brevard College | 362159 | Asheville NC | @3Laps | |
| 43 | 448 | ZALEWSKI | Mark | DePaul University | 172471 | Chicago IL | @3Laps | |
| 44 | 417 | GUIDRY | Richard | University of Wisconsin-Whitewa | 397012 | Elkhorn WI | @3Laps | |
| 45 | 438 | RUSSELL | Forrest | Colorado Mesa University | 383856 | Grand Junction CO | @4Laps | |
| 46 | 447 | WILCOX III | Barry | Mars Hill University | 275683 | Olney MD | @4Laps | |
| 47 | 422 | LI | Matthew | Massachusetts Institute of Tech | 289578 | Somerville MA | @4Laps | |
| DNF | 432 | PASQUALINA | Alec | Gonzaga University | 380657 | Alamo CA | ||
| DNF | 453 | MORSE | Nathaniel | Furman University | 235572 | Cohasset MA | ||
| DNF | 420 | KING | Jacob | Milligan College | 231130 | North Garden VA |
